East Carolina taps Florida assistant

Raleigh, N.C. — East Carolina’s new football coach will be Florida defensive coordinator John Thompson, sources at both schools told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday.

East Carolina will announce the move at a news conference today. Thompson replaces Steve Logan, who left the program Dec. 7.

Thompson could not be reached immediately for comment, but Gators coach Ron Zook told The Florida Times-Union that Thompson would leave the team after coaching in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1.

“I’m happy for him,” Zook told the newspaper. “Obviously, I don’t want to lose him.”

Zook said he should name a new defensive coordinator by the bowl game.

Logan was East Carolina’s coach for 11 seasons and won a school-record 69 games. However, the Pirates went 4-8 this season and fell apart defensively, allowing 33.2 points and 445.7 yards a game.

The hiring of Thompson is a change in philosophy for the Pirates, who were offensive-minded under Logan and previous coach Bill Lewis.

Bowling Green promotes aide

Bowling Green, Ohio — Bowling Green promoted offensive coordinator Gregg Brandon to head football coach Thursday.

Brandon replaces Urban Meyer, who left last week for Utah.

Brandon, whose offense set Mid-American Conference records for the most points in a season and most touchdowns last season, was the clear favorite for the job.

He had strong support from the players, who asked athletic director Paul Krebs to give the job to Brandon the day Meyer announced he was leaving. Brandon said he was overwhelmed.

“I got goose bumps,” he said. “It was unbelievable, the support I got from this team.”

Brandon, 46, will get a four-year contract and continue to call the plays. The Falcons will run the same offense.

Before coming to Bowling Green, he was receivers coach at Colorado. He also has coached at Northwestern, Weber State, Wyoming and Utah State.

Maine standout pleads guilty to possession

Bangor, Maine — Maine linebacker Stephen Cooper pleaded guilty in federal court Thursday to possession of steroids.

The All-American was released following his plea to the misdemeanor offense and issued a statement saying he planned to use the drugs after the season to bulk up for a chance to play in the NFL.

“My plan was to use them after the season to try and get faster and stronger and enhance my chances of fulfilling and enhancing my lifelong dream of playing professional football,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s lawyer, Terrence Harrigan, said he hopes his client will not face any jail time because he has no criminal record. Federal guidelines call for a sentence of up to six months for the offense. No sentencing date was set.

Officials: FSU probe centers on McPherson

Tallahassee, Fla. — A gambling investigation at Florida State centers on former Seminoles quarterback Adrian McPherson, who was kicked off the team last month after he was accused of stealing a check.

University vice president John Carnaghi said Thursday that police “are investigating rumors and hearsay regarding a single, former football player, Adrian McPherson.”

“The investigation does not currently extend to any other student athletes at FSU,” he said.

McPherson’s lawyer, Grady Irvin Jr., said his client has never bet on a sporting event. McPherson started four games this season, going 3-1.

“We will not participate in this unbelievable rumor that is being fueled by persons known, persons unknown and a salivating media,” Irvin said. “It’s a nonissue. That’s it.”

Concerned about the rumors of on-campus gambling, Florida State asked for assistance last month from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The agency assigned members of its Tallahassee office along with investigators from more than one of its seven regional offices to assist.

After a four-week investigation by FDLE and university police, no other students or athletes have been implicated.

Authorities have questioned some of McPherson’s teammates, as well as student trainers and managers. Coach Bobby Bowden said no one has spoken to him about any of his players.

Former Marshall official files suit against school

Charleston, W.Va. — Marshall’s former athletic compliance director filed a $1 million lawsuit against the school and coach Bob Pruett, charging the coach with making false statements to NCAA investigators.

Dave Ridpath, who filed the lawsuit Thursday in U.S. District Court in Huntington, W. Va., claims that Pruett falsely said that the school’s compliance office was monitoring the athletes’ employment by multimillionaire booster Marshall Reynolds.

Ridpath also alleges that Pruett falsely said he was not informed that all athletes must report their employment to the compliance office.

The lawsuit names the school, Pruett and Richard Hilliard, who represented the school during last year’s investigation.

Ridpath was hired as the school’s director of judicial affairs in October 2001 during an NCAA investigation into Marshall’s athletic program. He says the reassignment has hindered his career.

“It’s pretty clear in the complaint, that (the reassignment) has been a major issue in my life,” Ridpath told WSAZ-TV in Huntington.

When reached by The Associated Press on Thursday, Ridpath declined further comment under the advice of his attorneys.